Cowboy Flying Saucer - Travel Lodge

  by Kimberly Bright

published: 14 / 5 / 2019

Label: Sparowhawk Records
Format: LP

intro

Cosmic rhythm-heavy mix of psych, ambient, techno and other styles with mysterious storylines on second album from Cowboy Flying Saucer

Walthamstow-based Cowboy Flying Saucer’s second album ‘Travel Lodge,’ like their previous releases, at times sounds like a dream- or trance-induced psychedelic background of ambient synths being gatecrashed by Sleaford Mods. The modus operandi is, in their words, “an experimental vehicle for sonic fun and adventure.” This album was recorded live at The Sickroom over a mere two days. There is downright awe-inspiring funky bass from “musical Swiss army knife” Spanna (ex-PLAKKA) and drums/percussion from Dave B (ex-Magoo), which anchor the music and quickly become the best things about the whole album. Bobby aka BK13 can veer into sharply delivered spoken word, strangely comical riffs (“Mushrooms and leather, a great night out/But leave the family out!”), Mark E. Smith and John Cooper Clarke-type sneering, and social commentary (‘Crack Grandma’). His shoutiness makes any zoning out to the enjoyable electronica short-lived. Some of the sound effects, while effective, verge on annoying on first listen if you happen to be driving with the album on and there’s suddenly, for example, a siren.’Travel Lodge Wedding’, ‘Theme From Cowboy Flying Saucer’, and ‘Mushrooms & Leather’, while repetitive, are energetic, surprisingly catchy and memorable earworms. The theme of ‘Travelodge Wedding’ is taken from an event in BK13’s life, about one night’s wedding celebration that somehow turns into a week, and the narrator seems unsure why he’s still at the Travel Lodge. “I was only here for one night. It’s been a week!” Is he there deliberately, did he unintentionally end up having an illicit substance-fueled lost week, or is this an unexplained ‘Doctor Who’ time warp? The mention of a barefoot auntie “dancing in the ash” seems like the wedding took a sinister turn. Their Bandcamp page lists their influences as: time, space, electricity, tardigrades, God Saves The Earth Flying Saucer Foundation, the Middle Ages, smoke blackened paper, spring reverb, hypnosis, isolation, beer, celestial bodies, insects, rebounding objects, internal ramblings, dreams. That inarguable list tells you exactly what to expect from their music.

Track Listing:-